Visitors at Sequoia Park Zoo in Eureka, California, got an unusual surprise when a wild American black bear decided to take itself on a private tour of the zoo grounds.
According to People, in a post shared on Instagram Friday, Oct. 17, the zoo said its staff discovered the unexpected guest while conducting a daily inspection of the Redwood Sky Walk.
According to the zoo, the bear “did not appear aggressive” and was even spotted “interacting” with the zoo’s resident black bears — Tule, Ishŭng, and Nabu — through their habitat fencing.
A photo posted by the zoo shows the curious visitor leaning over a railing to watch the resident bears, while another image captures the bear strolling calmly near a forested area within the zoo.
“Overall, he was a very polite visitor,” the zoo joked. “He stayed on the boardwalk path, kept two feet on the ground, and didn’t try to climb over the railings! (But seriously. When we say, ‘wildlife welcome,’ this isn’t exactly what we have in mind. 😅)”
Once the bear was spotted, the zoo said “emergency procedures were implemented,” with assistance from the Eureka Police Department and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
After a brief exploration of “enrichment items around the night house,” the bear was “safely coaxed back into the woods through a service gate,” the zoo said.
“This was an exemplary execution of our emergency systems, which resulted in the best outcome for everyone involved – including the bear!” the zoo added.
Zoo Director Jim Campbell-Spickler told the San Francisco Chronicle that the bear likely entered by climbing a tree but “was not able to get out” until staff opened a service gate. He estimated the bear was about 1.5 years old and weighed around 150 pounds.
“He was just a curious guy,” Campbell-Spickler said, adding that the animal was not “aggressive” in any way.
The zoo confirmed that its perimeter fencing remains intact and secure, noting that Sequoia Park is home to “wild bears and other animals.” Officials reminded visitors to observe wildlife from a distance, stay on marked trails, and always be aware of their surroundings.
